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Wednesday, April 19, 2017

Edmonton Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl was ejected from Game 4 after spearing San Jose Sharks forward Chris Tierney in the groin.

The incident occurred in the second period with the Oilers already down 5-0. Draisaitl raised his stick under the legs of Tierney after the Sharks forward moved the puck behind the Oilers' net.

Draisaitl, 21, was given a five-minute major penalty for spearing and a game misconduct. The Sharks made the score 6-0 on the ensuing power play.

Tierney left for the dressing room after the spear but did return to the game.

"Just feel a stick in my groin, so obviously it doesn't feel well at the time," Tierney told the Mercury News after the game. "Just kind of dropped and went to shake it off. Takes a couple minutes to recover from something like that. But felt OK the rest of the game."

Sharks forward Logan Couture said Draisaitl had an intent to injure on the play and was glad the referees handed out a misconduct.

"I think it's dangerous. Any time you spear a guy like that you're intending to injure him," Couture said. "I don't like those types of plays in this game, but the refs made a good call with throwing him out."

Draisaitl could still face league discipline for the spear. He does not have a point through four games in the postseason.